“That was quite a mission. There were a lot of no answers to questions when we were trying to get them out,” says Backes. “It’s a global issue with strays and mistreating them.”

David Backes

Two of the thousands of strays in Sochi are now under the care of Five Acres in St. Charles, the animal shelter that’s worked closely with David and his wife, Kelly, and their foundation, Athletes for Animals.